PRO CHALLENGE TO KICK OFF SEASON AT ORLANDO AND NEW SMYRNA

CONCORD, NC (December 20, 2006) – Each February, the best short track and major-league stock car drivers and teams converge on Florida’s East Coast to officially kick off the racing season. Between Daytona International Speedway, New Smyrna Speedway and Orlando Speedworld, hundreds of drivers from all over the country compete to knock off the rust that might have been gained over the winter months.

In 2007, Pro Challenge drivers from all over the United States and Canada will make a similar trek to Florida for the “Winternationals.” For the second year in a row, Pro Challenge drivers will kick off their season with two events at Orlando Speedworld on February 9th and 10th. Then, on February 11th and 12th, the series will return to historic New Smyrna Speedway to participate in the annual “Speedweeks” events alongside some of the best short track drivers around.

“We are extremely excited about kicking off the Pro Challenge season again in the state of Florida with races in Orlando and New Smyrna for the Winternationals,” said John Litzinger, Owner and President of Pro Challenge. “We started our season at Orlando last season, and things went extremely well with both races being National Points races. This year, we’re going with a different points format (with each regional race counting towards National Points during the 2007 season, with a four-race ‘Pro Challenge Playoff’ to determine the National Champion at year’s end), but the races will still mean a lot in the national standings and Florida regional points. I think that because they are regional races, these races will help bolster the regional racing program, as well.”

Orlando Speedworld will host the opening events during Winternationals weekend, Friday, February 9th, and Saturday, February 10th. Both Orlando events will be 50 laps in distance, with time trials determining the starting lineup. The top-six qualifiers will then redraw for their starting spots prior to the feature event. Thirty cars are slated to start each event. The Orlando races will be open to all Pro Challenge-approved racers as set by series rules. A practice day on Thursday, February 8th, will help racers dial in their machines.

Then on Sunday, February 11th, and Monday, February 12th, Pro Challenge competitors will head to New Smyrna Speedway to compete in two 35-lap feature events to round out the “Winternationals” program. The qualifying procedures will be the same as in Orlando. Due to New Smyrna Speedway regulations, only Pro Challenge competitors 14-years old and over will be allowed to compete in the New Smyrna events.

2006 was, by far, the biggest year in Pro Challenge history, as many new drivers found their way into victory lane and to Regional Championships, as well as providing some of the most memorable moments both on the track and off. Now the 2007 season has its chance to be even bigger starting with the Winternationals events.

“The great part about these races in Florida being at this time of year is that we’ll get drivers from all of the Pro Challenge regions,” said Litzinger. “Last year, several of our Canada-region drivers made the trip to Orlando, and I think that because we’re having a four-race series, we’ll get even more Canadians trying to escape the wintertime. We’re expecting drivers from all of the regions trying to come in and take victories, but the guys in the Florida region will not want to give it up easily.”

An added bonus to Pro Challenge competitors headed to Florida for Winternationals this season is the ability to race again on the half-mile at New Smyrna. Top Super Late Model and Modified drivers have made New Smyrna’s Speedweeks events one of the biggest short track events in the country, and now Pro Challenge competitors have the chance to take part in the festivities as well. And it will all take place in the shadows of the Daytona International Speedway, which is located just minutes down the road from New Smyrna Speedway.

“The fact that we get to go to New Smyrna during the first weekend of Speedweeks is a great honor for Pro Challenge racing. It will provide more exposure for our competitors and to the series. A lot of the guys from the NASCAR garage go to New Smyrna after the day’s activities in Daytona are finished up, so that is a great place for our young drivers to start off their seasons in front of them.”

Pro Challenge Winternationals entry forms can be found at the online home for the Pro Challenge Series, www.prochallengeseries.com. Early registration is only open until February 1st before a $50 late registration penalty is incurred.

For more information on the Pro Challenge Winternationals, the Pro Challenge National Series, as well as the latest from all of the Pro Challenge regions, contact Matt Kentfield at (704) 455–2051

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend